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Diamond trains less than competitors

Nathan Paull

Michael Diamond reckons he's so experienced it's better for him to train less than half as much as his trap shooting rivals.

Chasing a sixth Commonwealth Games gold medal, 42-year-old Diamond headlines Australia's 29-strong shooting team which begins Glasgow Games competition at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre near Carnoustie on Scotland's east coast on Friday.

The six-time Olympian says recognising how mentally draining shooting can be is the secret to his longevity in a high-pressure sport.

"I practice probably once a fortnight now," said Diamond, who will compete in the individual trap, aiming to add to Commonwealth golds won in Kuala Lumpur, Manchester (two), Melbourne and Delhi.

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"I think for me if I was to do it all the time - you know, once a week, twice a week, or three times a week - like most people have to - it would actually burn me out.

"Because I've been doing it for so long I need to rest from it and come back into it."

Probably Australia's second-most recognised shooter, Mark has been eager to atone for his poor result at the 2012 London Olympics by training harder to deal with Scotland's fickle weather.

The Games will be Mark's swansong as he makes way for a new generation of shooters.

The other shooting disciplines have young guns coming up through the ranks, including air riflers Emma Adams, 15 and Jack Rossiter, 17.

Pistol shooter David Chapman, 49, whose 22-year-old daughter Hayley is also in the team, says Australia's new wave of shooters are reinvigorating the sport.

"I would really like to see them improve, beat me and push me out of the team," Chapman insisted.

It's a possibility, given in Delhi 2010 Alethea Sedgman was only 16 when she claimed gold in the women's 3 position event.

Despite sending what selectors consider Australia's strongest team to an Commonwealth Games, the group will undoubtedly win fewer medals than previous competitions given team events have been cut from the program.

Ten shooters, including gold medal chance Lalita Yauhleuskaya (10m Air Pistol) will compete for Australia on the first day of competition on Friday.